Ok so just like the title says I was driving home a few days ago and I got the blinking ses light. I knew it was not a good sign. So I went to advance and scanned the car and found the code P0308 which as I am sure most of you know is a misfire of cylinder 8. So I pulled the plug and found this plug that you see in the attached pic. Replaced it and I am still throwing the code. I checked the plug wire and it seemed fine. My question is: where do I go from here? What else do I check and how can I find out whats wrong? I would prefer not to rip open the engine since it is my dd.

 

Swap the wire with another cylinder.
Swap the coil with a another cylinder.

 

I agree. Switch wire and coil to another cylinder to see if it still throws the code for #8 or if it changes to the cylinder you swapped with. If it doesn't change and still shows #8 check the wiring harness for the coils.

 

just an update...I took it into the chevy dealer. They did a compression leakdown test and it looks like a piston is bad. It showed #8 at 40%. At minimum he said I would be looking at 2500 plus...and if they got in there and it was the block it would be over 7500 for a new engine. That is pretty ridiculous. I do not want to pay that much. If I'm paying 7500 I am going to have one built for me. What do you all think about this?

 

For $7500, you can buy a built turnkey long block. Screw the dealer rebuild.

 

Thats what I was thinking. If it going to be that much. I might as well get what I want in the engine.

 

Before you write off the engine, you should still swap the coil and plug wire to another cylinder...just to be sure. If you were really down a cylinder, your engine would run like do-do cracks. I'd hate for you to drop serious cash if you don't have to.

You can find used engine/tranny combos for about $3500. Engine alone for less.

If it were me, I would find a nice used long block and swap all the accessories over. Then, sell off your long block to someone intending to build a turbo car or something. You won't get much for it, but it will still help limit your investment.

 

*update* still giving me problems. Im back home now so I am going to do the compression test myself so I am sure of what it is. Hoping its a valve or valvespring but we'll see. any other suggestions?